After getting a taste of life in the National Hockey League this past season, Paris native Zac Dalpe is working his tail off this summer to make sure he earns a permanent spot in Carolina with the Hurricanes for the 2011-12 season.

"I think getting there was great," said Dalpe, who was at the Brantford Golf and Country Club recently for the 19th annual Walter Gretzky CNIB Golf Classic. "I thought it was great in my first (full) pro season.

"The 15 games was a good learning experience and hopefully next year it can be a full-time spot. I work hard in the summer for that."

There can't be many players out there who work harder than Dalpe.

After being chosen in the second round (45th overall) of the 2008 NHL entry draft by Carolina, Dalpe completed his second season at Ohio State University before signing with the Hurricanes.

He played in the final few games of the 2009-10 season for the American Hockey League's Albany River Rats and then went home to get ready for his lifelong goal of making it to the NHL.

While many players use their first NHL signing bonuses to buy big-ticket items - cars, houses and electronics come to mind - Dalpe was more low key. The six-foot-one, 195-pounder put in a gravel pit at the family home his parents, Paul and Lisa, own so that he, his brothers, Ben and Phil, and all their friends could train to get ready for upcoming hockey seasons.

That work ethic has continued this off-season as Dalpe is not only working out with A.J. Nagy at Sport Specific Training in Waterloo but also with local hockey coach Scott Rex and fitness guru Mick Ferras.

"I just want to put on some weight," said Dalpe, who would like to crack the 200-pound barrier. "I don't want to lose any speed though."

Dalpe actually began last season with the Hurricanes as they played a pair of games in Finland to start the 2010/11 NHL campaign.

The Paris District High School graduate wasted no time getting his first NHL point, assisting on a goal in Carolina's season-opening 4-3 win against the Minnesota Wild.

After playing six more games in October, Dalpe was returned to Carolina's AHL team - which had moved to Charlotte and was rebranded as the Checkers.

With the Checkers, Dalpe had a terrific season, scoring 23 goals and adding 34 assists in 61 games. That helped the former Stratford Culliton make the AHL's all-rookie team.

After Christmas he was recalled by the Hurricanes and in his first game back to the NHL - on Jan. 1 against the New Jersey Devils - not only did he score his first career goal, but it was also the game winner.

Dalpe played six more games in January and one in February for Carolina, totaling three goals and one assist in 15 games.

Although he only had 16 shots on goal, his 18.8 shooting percentage ranked 23rd in the NHL.

While Dalpe is enjoying his summer, he's not taking anything for granted come September.

With the internet buzzing that a spot on the Hurricanes roster is Dalpe's to lose, he's not going to go into camp with that on his mind.

"Camp will be huge," he said. "I just have to show them I can be a full-time player.

"The AHL is a very good league and in the AHL anyone on the first or second lines can play in the NHL. The difference in the NHL is the speed and maturity of the players."

So is he feeling a bit of pressure with all the talk of him being a shoe-in for a spot on the team?

"I've felt pressure since I was 16," he said. "The main thing for me is the confidence that I have that I can play at that level. I think it helps that I've played 15 games.

"Being a pro hockey player is great, it's addicting. When you go from the NHL to the AHL, it's a blow but I took it all in stride."